“…they’ve done studies on children who are required to sit down at the family table and those who are not. And the ones who are score higher academically; they’re more well adjusted.” – Paula Deen, Food Network Star

Sit down, be present, share. It’s not just about community, about family… but also about being the best we can be. Sitting down at the table with your loved ones for a mealtime shares love, and, helps you reach your goals!

As weapproach the end of 2011 and peer into 2012, it gives me time to reflect notonly on this year, but the adventure as a whole, and celebrating by far and away the most rewarding andimportant thing I have ever done, namely creating Arrival Education.We have beengetting Arrival Education investment ready this year, with support of UnLtd and Incutoc(an external investor ready business); during that process, we had to write a history ofthe results we have generated to-date as part of our investment ready documentation.Writing that history, was one of the most inspiring things I have done. In the writing of it, I become presentto the results and journey we have been on to get here. Here is that abridged history of AE:HistoryStarted in 2004 by ...more

This week I was fortunate enough to spray paint the meeting area of Inspired Film & Video, a small company based in Keele. They remembered me from a short documentary they filmed for Groundwork many moons ago where they interviewed me about one of the programmes Groundwork facilitated. They decided they wanted to spruce up the meeting area at their office and immediately contacted me where we bounced ideas and came up with the abstract concept. Whilst painting, the team kindly documented it and put it into a cool little time lapse of it coming together.

Yesterday we held a first for us at iSE — a pitching and networking event for social enterprises to come along and tell others why they should buy their products and services.

Each person had three minutes to tell their story and then feedback was invited from those assembled on what they had heard.

People brought along samples for tasting, touching and sharing and there was a tremendous energy and buzz from all concerned. We have already been asked to do a repeat which we are keen to support and nearly 30 people attended!

One participant, Martin Hogg, said, “Today’s networking was fantastic. A real spirit of support in the room and great to hear what others are doing. You and Lizzie really have created a distinctive showcase event that people loved.”

There was very good coverage in the Guardian on Wednesday 14th December of the Public Administration Select Committee’s (PASC) report on the government’s progress in implementing ‘big society’ policies.

Despite four ‘big society’ relaunches (and counting), the PASC was highly critical and said an overhaul of how the government communicates and implements ‘big society’ policies is essential.

It has called on the government to create a single ‘big society minister’ to lead on the ‘big society’ — or risk seeing it flop for a fifth time in a welter of confusing messages and contradictory policies.

For those wishing to follow the arguments in detail, the full PASC report is here and the PASC’s recommendations are summarised ...more

The government has just closed its consultation on a mutual model for the Post Office.

There is some confusion in the commentary around this. The argument isn’t about a consumer mutual for the Post Office. Rather, it is whether there should be some representation alongside the small business sub-postmasters and staff.

The issue is in whose interest it is all run. Can a producer co-operative in a market which is non-competitive, so consumers have little or no choice, be 100% aligned with the public interest mission required by statute for the post office network? If you don’t internalise some voice for the consumer interest, even if indirectly representative, then you end up having to do it through external regulation or the courts.

Either route feels to me perhaps like a somewhat unhappy substitute for the current model of direct state ownership – but equally I am open-minded if this is the way, after deliberation, that those involved choose to go.

The Good Deals Pioneers Fund is offering a significant cash investment and an estimated £50,000 business support via the Young Foundation's Accelerator programme. The closing date for applications is Friday 26 October – get involved now to kick-start your start venture.

Featured Service Provider

Social enterprises need an understanding banking partner to help manage their financial needs. Social banking specialist Triodos Bank can provide a fully integrated service, including traditional banking services and debt finance.